Test apparatus

ABSTRACT

According to the present invention a test apparatus for testing stunning baths in which fowl, each having a head, legs, and a body having a center, are to be stunned, includes a casing containing; electric circuitry having resistances corresponding to the electrical resistance between; the head and a point in the center of the body, the legs and the point in the center of the body, and any single point of contact with an adjacent bird and the point in the center of the body; means for suspending the casing from a moving shackle train; means for completing an electric circuit involving a water bath and the shackle train; and means for monitoring the current passing through at least one of the resistances.

The present invention relates to electrical test equipment for use inconjunction with water baths as currently and as proposedly used forpre-stunning fowl prior to slaughter.

There are various regulations aimed at minimising pain or distress offowl being slaughtered for human consumption. One method of meeting theregulations involves stunning the fowl, prior to slaughter, by means ofelectric shocks. Fowl are suspended head down from a moving shackletrain electrically connected to a neutral line and their heads broughtinto immersion with a water bath which is held at an elevated voltagerelative to the neutral line. There are various problems with thissystem. For example, the resistances of individual fowl varyconsiderably and thus the use of a constant voltage stunning systemresults in a proportional variation in current passing through the fowland a corresponding variation in the depth of stunning. The variableresistance caused by random contact of adjacent fowl on the shackletrain can also cause variations in electric current through individualfowl.

As a result of these drawbacks in the conventional constant voltagestunning bath a constant current stunning bath has been developed by theapplicant and is described in co-pending application GB 9122142.

There is a need for test apparatus, for use with stunning baths of boththe constant voltage and constant current types, which can measure thecurrent which will flow through fowl of different resistances.

According to the present invention a test apparatus, for testingstunning baths in which fowl, each having a head, legs and a body havinga centre, are to be stunned, includes a casing containing;

electric circuitry having resistances corresponding to the electricalresistance between.

the head and the point in the centre of the body.

the legs and the point in the centre of the body, and

any single point of contact with an adjacent fowl and the point in thecentre of the body;

and means for suspending the casing from a moving shackle train;

means for completing an electric circuit involving a water bath and theshackle train; and

means for monitoring the current passing through at least one of theresistances.

The common point in the centre of the body is theoretical and thoseskilled in the art will realise that its physical location is irrelevantin respect of the electric circuit theory.

The means for completing the electric circuit might, for example,include two conducting T-pieces connected to the casing and a conductingbob suspended from the casing, a suitable material for the T-pieces andthe bob being brass.

One embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way ofexample only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings,of which;

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of apparatus according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus with a cover removed,

FIG. 3 is a simplified diagram of the circuit within the apparatus,

FIG. 4 is a more detailed diagram of the circuit within the apparatus,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of several pieces of apparatus in use, and

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of a remote control unit.

A piece of test apparatus includes a casing 10 (FIG. 1) has two brassT-pieces 11 extending from one end thereof and a brass bob 12 extendingfrom the other end. The T-pieces 11 and bob 12 are electricallyconnected to a circuit (FIG. 3) which includes resistances 13, 14 and 15(FIG. 2) within the apparatus. The resistances 13, 14, 15 correspondrespectively to the resistance between the head and a point in thecentre of a fowl's body, the resistance between the legs and the pointin the centre of the body, and any single point of contact with anadjacent fowl and the point in the centre of the body, and are in theform of plug-in calibrated networks (see FIG. 2).

Also within the casing 10 are a Hall effect current transducer 17,processing electronics, shown generally at 18 in FIG. 3, for processingthe output of the current transformer 17, and a storage unit 19 whichmight be, for example, a PSION Organiser II.

A suitable circuit for use in the apparatus is shown in FIG. 4.

In use a number of apparatus are suspended by T-pieces 11 to a movingshackle train 20 (FIG. 5) in a manner analagous to fowl. The shackletrain is moved, bringing the bobs 12 on the apparatus 10 into contactwith a water bath 21. The water bath 21 and shackle train are atdifferent voltages and as a result of immersion of the bobs 12 in wateran electric current passes through the apparatus 10. A remote controlunit 16 (FIG. 1, circuit shown in FIG. 6) is used to activate therecording circuitry, and the current and its behaviour are recorded inthe storage unit 19. The various resistances 13,14, 15 might be variedbetween consecutive test runs to simulate various sizes and types offowl. Also the effect of contact between adjacent fowl can be simulated.

It will be realised that many variations of the invention ape possible.For example, results may be transmitted from the apparatus 10 forstorage and analysis, rather than being stored within the apparatus.

It will be realised that the physical dimensions of the apparatus 10, interms of length between the ends of T-pieces 11 and bob 12, shouldsimulate the length of fowl with which a water bath under test isconcerned. The length between the ends of the T-pieces and the bob ispreferrably adjustable, to simulate different fowl or variations inlength beween individual fowl of a particular species.

When used for testing of apparatus in a commercial processing plant theapparatus may be used to replace a fowl in the processing line, and canhave the "contact to centre point" resistance 15 connected to anadjacent fowl.

What is claimed is;
 1. A test apparatus, for testing stunning baths inwhich fowl, each having a head, legs and a centre of the body, are to bestunned, characterised in that it includes a casing (10)containing;electric circuitry having resistances (13, 14, 15)corresponding to the electrical resistance between;the head and a pointin the centre of the body (13), the legs and the point in the centre ofthe body (14), and any single point of contact with an adjacent fowl andthe point in the centre of the body (15); means (11) for suspending thecasing (10) from a moving shackle train (20); means (12) for completingan electric circuit involving a water bath (21) and the shackle train(20); and means (17,18) for monitoring the current passing through atleast one of the resistances (13, 14, 15).
 2. Apparatus as claimed inclaim 1 wherein the current monitored is that through the head to centrepoint resistance (13).
 3. A test apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or inclaim 2 including recording apparatus (19).
 4. A test apparatus asclaimed in claim 3 wherein the recording apparatus (19) is containedwithin the casing (10).
 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein therecording apparatus (19) is activated by remote control means (16). 6.Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the remote control means (16)includes an infra-red transmitter.
 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4wherein the recording apparatus (19) is activated by remote controlmeans (16).
 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the remotecontrol means (16) includes an infra-red transmitter.